"It just kind of ruined the festivities," because scare happened right smack in the middle of it all."

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Festivities surrounding the Amgen Tour of California Race were brought to a temporary halt by a bomb scare in downtown Livermore Saturday afternoon, according to a police spokeswoman.

The multi-city bicycle race had already passed through town around 2:30 p.m. but many people remained on the scene when a suspicious cardboard box with a postmark from Southern California was spotted in a dumpster on the 2100 block of Second Street, according to Officer Traci Rebiejo.

Race to Be King: Santa Cruz Style

The package was suspicious because police had cleared all garbage cans in the area prior to the race as a precaution, Rebiejo said.

A three-block area was evacuated and cleared of people and the Alameda County bomb squad was called to the scene.

Amgen Tour of California

However, a local vendor came forward and identified the box, saying it contained postcards and the scene was cleared shortly after 4 p.m.

"It just kind of ruined the festivities," Rebiejo said. "It was right smack in the middle of it all."